6 Ways to Survive a Small Bathroom

I’ve shared a couple of small bathrooms with a number of people over the years. Growing up, my sister and I shared a small bathroom. In college, I shared a small bathroom with 3 other roommates. And our first year of marriage, I shared a VERY small bathroom with my husband. The struggle is real.

The struggle is SO real that, when we were looking at homes to purchase, one of my prayers was for double sinks in the master bathroom. Can I get an “amen”?! And here’s where I say that God really does have a sense of humor: the home we purchased actually had double sinks in the master bathroom AND the guest bathroom!

I know many of you have the same struggles with a small bathroom, so when Zoe Clark contacted me about this article, I knew there were lots of you who would find it helpful! And she’s got some fantastic ideas! Take it away, Zoe!

People who live in small flats should definitely not go throwing in random accessories, especially not in their tiny loos. If your bathroom feels like a matchbox and you cannot afford to move to a bigger home, check out these six simple tips on how to organize your miniature toilet area and make its modest dimensions work to your advantage.

Keep only the essentials

A common problem with bathrooms, both large and small, is that homeowners tend to get carried away with the quantity of belongings they keep there. Just like the rest of your home, your bathing area should be free of clutter and equipped with functional essentials. Go over the items you have in your bathroom and donate or throw away anything you do not truly need. Also, be careful when shopping for bathroom staples and opt for cleaning liquids designed for multiple surfaces to avoid accumulating a range of disinfectants which work with one type of material only.

Visually expand a tiny bathroom

Light tones help visually expand limited spaces, so the next time you decide to repaint your loo, pick white or soft yellow. Another useful trick is to place large mirrors as these can also create the impression of spaciousness. If your loo has windows, pull back the curtains to maximize use of natural light – this may help make your bathroom feel brighter and less crammed. If your restroom is windowless, experienced bathroom builders from Sydney recommend investing in window installation to beat mold, bacteria and add a whole new dimension to the area.

Everything in its place

Once you have de-cluttered your space-limited loo, make sure you organize the remaining items so that all the toiletries you use daily would be within reach. For instance, keep only soap, toothpaste and toothbrush on top of your wall-mounted sink, and move shower gels and shampoos to the corner of the bath tub or shower. Stack your shaving gear or makeup in a holder atop the washing machine if you do not have space for extra racks. Place hooks on the back of the door to hold towels, and store water-sensitive items in boxes or cabinets.

Use every inch you have

Although most people do not associate bathrooms with extensive storage space, homeowners whose living areas cannot accommodate all their possessions should strive to use every inch they have to stack and organize their gear. Place a shelf above the sink to hold your brush, toothpaste and soap if you cannot cram them all on top of your sink. A free wall at the back of your loo can be easily transformed into a corner-to-corner shelf. Or, buy or make a custom-sized closet to place in a vacant area in your loo that will hold all your toiletries, towels and cleaning essentials, allowing you to minimize mess elsewhere in the restroom.

Replace tub by shower

If you can afford a costlier upgrade, consider dumping the bathtub for a standing shower, and use the remaining space for a tall storage cabinet or floor-to-ceiling shelving. Shower areas isolated by large frameless glass panes will create an illusion of added space – and you will also be saving water by switching to a quick rinse instead of a deep soak.

Get proper lighting

Petite spaces look even smaller without proper lighting. Opt for high-luminosity bulbs instead of conventional ones and pick items with reflective surfaces to maximize the visual effect of light. Also, keep the place clean and properly aired at all times to avoid the stuffiness and unpleasant smells that often plague diminutive areas.

Conquer a small bathroom with the help of these simple tricks – you may be surprised just how functional and charming your loo may turn out to be if you reorganize it properly.

This article was written by Zoe Clark. Zoe is an environmentalist, home decorator and DIY enthusiast. When not obsessing about designing perfect homes, she is spending time with her family.

Thanks, Zoe! I think the proper lighting really is a huge deal, as is the de-cluttering! (Of course, you knew I would say that!)

Will any of these solutions work for YOUR tiny bathroom?

Due to the amount of comments from all of my wonderful readers, it is not always possible for me to respond to each one. However, I absolutely do read them all, and if you’d like to address something specific, or have a question for me, please don’t hesitate to email me at Kristen@theroadtodomestication.com. I will respond to your email as soon as possible! Thank you for visiting the blog!